x=x+1 vs. x +=1

Question

I\'m under the impression that these two commands result in the same end, namely incrementing X by 1 but that the latter is probably more efficient.

If this is not c

Answer 1

From the MSDN library for +=:

Using this operator is almost the same as specifying result = result + expression, except that result is only evaluated once.

So they are not identical and that is why x += 1 will be more efficient.

Update: I just noticed that my MSDN Library link was to the JScript page instead of the VB page, which does not contain the same quote.

Therefore upon further research and testing, that answer does not apply to VB.NET. I was wrong. Here is a sample console app:

Module Module1

Sub Main()
    Dim x = 0
    Console.WriteLine(PlusEqual1(x))
    Console.WriteLine(Add1(x))
    Console.WriteLine(PlusEqual2(x))
    Console.WriteLine(Add2(x))
    Console.ReadLine()
End Sub

Public Function PlusEqual1(ByVal x As Integer) As Integer
    x += 1
    Return x
End Function

Public Function Add1(ByVal x As Integer) As Integer
    x = x + 1
    Return x
End Function

Public Function PlusEqual2(ByVal x As Integer) As Integer
    x += 2
    Return x
End Function

Public Function Add2(ByVal x As Integer) As Integer
    x = x + 2
    Return x
End Function

End Module

IL for both PlusEqual1 and Add1 are indeed identical:

.method public static int32 Add1(int32 x) cil managed
{
.maxstack 2
.locals init (
    [0] int32 Add1)
L_0000: nop 
L_0001: ldarg.0 
L_0002: ldc.i4.1 
L_0003: add.ovf 
L_0004: starg.s x
L_0006: ldarg.0 
L_0007: stloc.0 
L_0008: br.s L_000a
L_000a: ldloc.0 
L_000b: ret 
}

The IL for PlusEqual2 and Add2 are nearly identical to that as well:

.method public static int32 Add2(int32 x) cil managed
{ 
.maxstack 2
.locals init (
    [0] int32 Add2)
L_0000: nop 
L_0001: ldarg.0 
L_0002: ldc.i4.2 
L_0003: add.ovf 
L_0004: starg.s x
L_0006: ldarg.0 
L_0007: stloc.0 
L_0008: br.s L_000a
L_000a: ldloc.0 
L_000b: ret 
}